Sacramento mayor to lead national mayoral group

Apr. 16, 2014
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In this Jan. 23, 2014, file photo, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, left, talks with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson before President Obama arrives to speak at a reception for the U.S. Conference of Mayors in the East Room of the White House in Washington. / Carolyn Kaster, AP

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was sworn in Wednesday as the new leader of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a platform raising the national political profile of the NBA All-Star.

Johnson rises to fill a vacancy left by Scott Smith of Mesa, Ariz., who resigned to run for governor of that state. In a Sacramento luncheon honoring his appointment, Johnson praised city leaders as the ones who find solutions and blasted politics in the nation's capital.

"We don't want to wait for Washington to figure our problems out," he said. "We don't have time to deal with bickering that happens between Democrats and Republicans."

The Democrat, first elected in 2008, said he would promote a "pro-growth agenda" as the nation's biggest advocate for local government. He echoed familiar ideas for an approach linking higher education, a skilled workforce and investments in high-speed Internet and infrastructure to foster economic development.

He pointed to Houston's resource centers for immigrants and Indianapolis' all-electric vehicle fleet as examples of cities taking action where federal lawmakers have stalled.

As federal funds have dried up for local projects, Johnson said cities can reach out to philanthropic groups and businesses.

Johnson is credited with keeping the Kings NBA franchise in Sacramento in exchange for a new downtown arena subsidized partly by the city. He used to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns from 1988 to 1999. Johnson has also promoted the state capital as a food destination in the center of the nation's agricultural belt.

He told the Sacramento Bee earlier that he is strongly considering running for a third term in 2016.

But before then, Sacramento voters will decide in November whether to give him more power. Johnson has pushed for Sacramento to join other large cities in authorizing the mayor to run the city's day-to-day operations.

Asked by reporters whether his new role would be a stepping stone for his political career, Johnson said it's more of a stepping stone for Sacramento's ability to attract grants and new businesses.

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